Manufacturing Innovation Institutes
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DoD) supports nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs), public/private partnerships that address both commercial and defense manufacturing needs within specific, defense-relevant technology areas. MIIs receive active participation and support from the military departments and defense agencies and their members. The MIIs’ flexible business models and strong focus on enabling highly collaborative research and development (R&D) are catalyzing important new organizational relationships across government, industry, and academia. MIIs bring together both traditional defense and non-traditional sectors to accelerate key innovation cycles, expand U.S. industrial capability, and assist in creating resilient supply chains that will support innovative defense products. DoD’s nine MIIs are: (1) America Makes (for additive manufacturing); (2) MxD (Manufacturing times Digital, for digital manufacturing, design and cybersecurity); (3) LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow, for innovative processes to lightweight materials); (4) AIM Photonics (American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics, for photonic device manufacturing and packaging); (5) NextFlex (for flexible hybrid electronics manufacturing); (6) AFFOA (Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, for smart fibers and textiles); (7) BioFabUSA (for regenerative tissue manufacturing); (8) ARM (Advanced Robotics Manufacturing, for smart collaborative robotics for manufacturing); and (9) BioMADE (for biomanufacturing of non-medical materials and products). MII funding is focused on: • Conducting pre-competitive applied research and development projects to reduce the cost, time, and technical uncertainty related to new manufacturing technologies and to improve existing technologies, processes, and products. • Developing and implementing education, training, and workforce recruitment courses, materials, and programs. • Developing innovative methodologies and practices for supply chain integration and introduction of new technologies into supply chains. • Engaging with small and mid-sized manufacturers, including women and minority-owned manufacturing enterprises, and larger-sized manufacturing firms. Each MII has a different model, with the following core tenets: • Each MII is a public/private partnership with representatives from industry, academia, state and local governments, and the DoD that co-invest in world-leading technologies and capabilities. • Each MII provides facilities to allow collaborative, precompetitive development of promising technologies and to promote the creation of stable and sustainable innovation ecosystems for advanced manufacturing. • The partnership forming the MII must commit non-federal resources that equal or exceed the federal commitment. • Each institute participates in the national Manufacturing USA network.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 350_0603680D8Z_3_0400_PB_2023
Related Documents
- Root: Defense Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program
- Child Accomplishment: America Makes (Additive Manufacturing)
- Child Accomplishment: MxD – Manufacturing times Digital (Digital Manufacturing, Design and Cybersecurity)
- Child Accomplishment: LIFT – Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (Lightweight Innovations – materials and processes)
- Child Accomplishment: AIM – American Institute for Manufacturing Photonics (Integrated Photonics Device Manufacturing and Packaging)
- Child Accomplishment: NextFlex Manufacturing Innovation Institute (Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing)
- Child Accomplishment: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (Smart Fibers and Textiles) (AFFOA)
- Child Accomplishment: BioFabUSA Manufacturing Innovation Institute (regenerative tissue manufacturing)
- Child Accomplishment: Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (Smart Collaborative Robotics for Manufacturing)
- Child Accomplishment: BioMADE Manufacturing Innovation Institute